Costa Rica: Human Development Assessment and Dilemmas

Abstract

This text presents an in-depth analysis of Costa Rica’s recent performance in Sustainable Human Development that goes beyond conventional indicators. It aims at rendering an assessment of the country’s main trends and challenges as of the latest data available. Most but not all data was updated to 2012, but in some cases the latest figure available is for 2011. The assessment updates the main findings and analyses of the XVIIIth State of the Nation Report (2012) prepared by the State of the Nation Program. Every year the Report updates data and analyses, unearths new topics to the purpose of improving the capabilities of citizens from all walks of life to engage in public affairs. In addition, the text places these findings on a comparative Latin American perspective. We hope that the breadth and scope of the contents contribute to a better understanding of the country’s current performance in economic, social, political, and environmental domains.